Life on and off the waters of the Wood River Valley

Winter 2013

04/16/13

While Sun Valley is famous for its ample outdoor recreational options for the whole family, there’s also plenty to do when the weather forces the search for fun indoors. So here’s a rundown of the Top 10 Rainy Day activities for Sun Valley.
1) Go Bowling!
The old school Bowling Alley and Game Room at the Sun Valley Lodge offers a fun step back in time. The lanes are open daily from 4 to 10pm. For more information click here or call 208-622-2191.
2) Go for a Swim!
When it’s too cold rainy to swim outdoors, there are plenty of options for indoor or heated pool swimming. The Wood River YMCA has two large pools and Sun Valley Resort offers three pools, including the famous, outdoor heated Lodge Pool, which includes cocktail service for patrons. Zenergy at...

03/25/13

IN SOME WAYS, Wing Tai Barrymore is a bit of a contradiction. You see his first name, which pays homage to his mother’s Hawaiian heritage (Tai) and his great grandmother’s maiden name (Winger), means “Forever Peaceful” in Chinese.
But “peaceful” is the last thing most people think when they watch Wing Tai doing a double alley-oops high above a halfpipe or rocketing off a set of rails.
The 20-year-old Wood River High graduate is well spoken and has a deep, mellow voice that sounds more along the lines of his name. But it’s Wing Tai’s need for speed—especially when he’s on skis—that speaks to his true spirit and his impressive ancestry.
Wing Tai’s grandfather is the late, great ski filmmaker Dick...

03/18/13

While winters in Sun Valley are famous for skiing, there’s also a growing following for its more watery pursuits. Fly fishing during the winter in Sun Valley can be downright spectacular.
That’s why it’s becoming more common to hear folks après skiing at places like Grumpy's, the Mule Shoe or The Pioneer talking about pulling winter “double headers:” fly fishing on the Big Wood River and skiing (alpine, Nordic or snowboarding) on the same glorious day in the heart of Idaho.
Of course, some folks think it’s crazy to fish when it’s freezing out. And while it certainly isn’t for everyone, for those of us with a passion for angling and alpine sports, there’s no better place to cast and carve turns on the same...

02/20/13

It just so happens that besides being home to America’s original destination ski resort and being world famous for fly fishing, whitewater rafting, blue football turf and potatoes, Idaho has another claim to fame when it comes to its great outdoors.
“The best chukar hunting in the world happens right here in Idaho,” said Drew Wahlin, and he’d know. Drew is the president of non-profit Idaho Chukar Foundation.
Drew’s in Ketchum this week to help promote the presentation of “Persian Chukar Hunting” by Dr. Afshin Mofid, a Boise resident who originally hails from Iran. Dr. Mofid grew up in Persia hunting chukars in their native lands. After moving to Idaho 20 years ago, the former professional ballet dancer was thrilled to find incredible...

01/16/13

Kenny Connolly knows a thing or two about winning battles.
When he was just 27, the former Challis resident was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, which is so exceptionally rare for someone his age to get that, statically speaking, he had a better chance of getting hit by lightening.
“Once you hear the word cancer,” Kenny said reflecting back to when he found out, “you don’t really hear anything else.”
But Kenny, like all cancer survivors, is a fighter. Instead of complaining about the struggles of surgery, chemotherapy and regular trips to an oncologist 140 miles away, he stubbornly held on to a positive attitude.
“You can’t just give up. You can’t think like that,” he said.
“It’s a crazy situation,...

01/03/13

Most people strolling down Sun Valley Road, may not know who Jack Bariteau is beyond being another friendly, familiar face in Ketchum.
But if any of these folks have been wandering down the most famous street in the Wood River Valley since the mid-nineties, they certainly know about Jack Bariteau’s work—and they’re more than likely thankful for it.
Jack Bariteau has long been considered a visionary for his work in the development field and some of the best examples of his efforts can be found smack dab in the heart of America’s original destination ski resort.
Originally from California, Bariteau has spent 35 years making a name for himself as a developer who could handle every phase of a project; from finding to designing and building and then...

12/12/12

IN WHAT SEEMED LIKE A STORY only Hollywood could tell, last spring the Los Angeles Kings barely made the NHL play-offs, but then went on to win their first Stanley Cup in convincing fashion—and they did so with an American-born goalie to boot. Since the Cup will reside in the filmmaking capitol of the world for the foreseeable future (NHL owners and players are fighting about money—again!—and no games are being played), here’s one former puckhead’s Top 10 lineup of the best hockey movies ever.
10: Mystery, Alaska (1999)
A bunch of small town, pond hockey playing buddies get their day on the ice with the New York Rangers. The great Phil Esposito and Barry “The Mullet” Melrose make cameos....

About This Blog

Whether he’s being out-fished by his trash talking mother-in-law, guiding one of his young sons through the perils of manhood or finding inspiration from the people of the Wood River Valley, Mike McKenna’s award-winning writing is always sure to entertain. Order a copy of Mike's highly-acclaimed book, "Angling Around Sun Valley: A year-round fly fishing guide to South Central Idaho" from Silver Creek Outfitters.